Python enumerate()

In this tutorial, we will learn about the Python enumerate() method with the help of examples.

The enumerate() method adds a counter to an iterable and returns it (the enumerate object).

Example

languages = ['Python', 'Java', 'JavaScript']

enumerate_prime = enumerate(languages)

# convert enumerate object to list
print(list(enumerate_prime))

# Output: [(0, 'Python'), (1, 'Java'), (2, 'JavaScript')]

1. Syntax of enumerate()

The syntax of enumerate() is:

enumerate(iterable, start=0)

2. enumerate() Parameters

enumerate() method takes two parameters:

• iterable – a sequence, an iterator, or objects that supports iteration
• start (optional) – enumerate() starts counting from this number. If start is omitted, 0 is taken as start.

3. enumerate() Return Value

enumerate() method adds counter to an iterable and returns it. The returned object is an enumerate object.

You can convert enumerate objects to list and tuple using list() and tuple() method respectively.

4. Example 1: How enumerate() works in Python?

grocery = ['bread', 'milk', 'butter']
enumerateGrocery = enumerate(grocery)

print(type(enumerateGrocery))

# converting to list
print(list(enumerateGrocery))

# changing the default counter
enumerateGrocery = enumerate(grocery, 10)
print(list(enumerateGrocery))

Output

<class 'enumerate'>
[(0, 'bread'), (1, 'milk'), (2, 'butter')]
[(10, 'bread'), (11, 'milk'), (12, 'butter')]

5. Example 2: Looping Over an Enumerate object

grocery = ['bread', 'milk', 'butter']

for item in enumerate(grocery):
  print(item)

print('\n')

for count, item in enumerate(grocery):
  print(count, item)

print('\n')
# changing default start value
for count, item in enumerate(grocery, 100):
  print(count, item)

Output

(0, 'bread')
(1, 'milk')
(2, 'butter')

0 bread
1 milk
2 butter

100 bread
101 milk
102 butter